Event Title
Examining college students attitudes toward diverse immigrant populations
Department
Psychology
Faculty Advisor
Dionne Stephens
Start Date
30-9-2020 9:00 AM
End Date
30-9-2020 10:00 AM
Abstract
Recent immigrants' mental health outcomes have been associated with perceived attitudes toward immigration from those around them and larger public discourses in the United States (U. S.; Esses et al., 2015; Hatzenbuehler et al., 2017; Sanchez et al., 2016). It is important to consider the varied differences in attitudes about immigrants across populations in the U. S. For example, Asian-Pacific Islander (API; 70%), Hispanics Americans (67%) and Black Americans (56%) believe newcomers are a benefit to American society. In contrast, 40% of White Americans believe newcomers are a threat to traditional American customs and values (Jones et al., 2016). However, factors such as generation cohort, educational attainment, religious identity, region of residence, and political affiliation (Esses et al., 2015; Hatzenbuehler et al., 2017; Hellwig & Sinno, 2017; Jones et al., 2016) significantly impact attitudes towards immigrants across all populations. Unfortunately, there has been little research that captures the nuanced influence of immigrants' own intersectional identities on these attitudes, including their perceived race/ ethnicity, country of origin, and type of immigration (e.g. Brader, Valentino, & Suhay, 2008; Hellwig & Sinno, 2017; Hopkins, 2015). This study examined college student's beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes toward national identity, immigration, citizenship, and ethnicity. Specifically, the differences in attitudes across the nation of origin conditions were examined. There were differences in levels of negatively when comparing Russian, Haitian, and Mexican immigrants. These differences existed even among racial/ ethnic minority respondents. The implications of these findings for policy and mental health are discussed.
File Type
Event
Examining college students attitudes toward diverse immigrant populations
Recent immigrants' mental health outcomes have been associated with perceived attitudes toward immigration from those around them and larger public discourses in the United States (U. S.; Esses et al., 2015; Hatzenbuehler et al., 2017; Sanchez et al., 2016). It is important to consider the varied differences in attitudes about immigrants across populations in the U. S. For example, Asian-Pacific Islander (API; 70%), Hispanics Americans (67%) and Black Americans (56%) believe newcomers are a benefit to American society. In contrast, 40% of White Americans believe newcomers are a threat to traditional American customs and values (Jones et al., 2016). However, factors such as generation cohort, educational attainment, religious identity, region of residence, and political affiliation (Esses et al., 2015; Hatzenbuehler et al., 2017; Hellwig & Sinno, 2017; Jones et al., 2016) significantly impact attitudes towards immigrants across all populations. Unfortunately, there has been little research that captures the nuanced influence of immigrants' own intersectional identities on these attitudes, including their perceived race/ ethnicity, country of origin, and type of immigration (e.g. Brader, Valentino, & Suhay, 2008; Hellwig & Sinno, 2017; Hopkins, 2015). This study examined college student's beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes toward national identity, immigration, citizenship, and ethnicity. Specifically, the differences in attitudes across the nation of origin conditions were examined. There were differences in levels of negatively when comparing Russian, Haitian, and Mexican immigrants. These differences existed even among racial/ ethnic minority respondents. The implications of these findings for policy and mental health are discussed.